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If you want to immerse yourself in nature and explore historical landmarks, Con Dao is the ideal destination. Among them, Dinh Chua Dao is a must-visit place to learn more about the past of this ancient island. Let's explore the detailed visiting experience of the palace with NVK Travel in the following article.
Address: Ton Duc Thang Commune, Con Dao District, Ba Ria - Vung Tau.
Dinh Chua Dao is also known by locals as Dinh Ong Lon or Dinh Tinh Truong, and it was once the residence and administrative center of the island lords, the rulers of Con Dao in the past. The palace features ancient beauty, built in traditional French architectural style, and still preserves many valuable historical artifacts to this day. It was once the command center of the entire Con Dao prison system, where countless orders, plots, and schemes were devised to suppress and torture prisoners.
Dinh Chua Dao possesses ancient beauty
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Dinh Chua Dao is a clear testament to the stark contrast between the lavish life of the rulers and the extreme suffering of the revolutionary prisoners. When visiting, you will see the place where dozens of prisoners were forced to work hard to serve the enjoyment of the island lords, thus feeling even more sympathy for the pain and sacrifice of those who have forever remained here.
Today, the palace has become an important historical destination. The structure not only denounces the brutal crimes of the French colonizers but is also regarded as a "living archive" of Con Dao, with many images and artifacts preserved almost in their original state.
Dinh Chua Dao began construction in 1862 and was completed in 1876. It has witnessed 53 island lords over 113 years, including 39 lords during the French colonial period and 14 lords under the American imperial occupation. The total area of the palace is about 1.86 hectares, including the main building, auxiliary houses, gardens, and other construction items. The main gate of the palace faces directly towards the 914 Pier area.
In earlier times, under the administration of the island lords, Dinh Chua Dao became the nerve center for managing the entire prison system as well as the workplace of the ruling officials on this island. This was where orders, decisions, and plots of high-ranking officials were made to exile and eliminate prisoners in the prisons.
The palace has a rich historical background
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After many ruling periods, under the reign of the French island lord Andouard, the beautiful island became associated with the nickname hell on earth due to its brutality and cruelty towards prisoners. Later, the prisoners themselves punished this island lord in his own lair in 1919.
The island lords enjoyed a magnificent, luxurious life like emperors due to their domination at Dinh Chua Dao. In stark contrast to the life of the island lords was the miserable, impoverished, and brutally oppressed condition of the revolutionary prisoners. The prisoners were often forced to do hard labor in the palace gardens and serve all the needs of the island lords.
According to travel experiences shared about Con Dao, you can visit Dinh Chua Dao at any time. However, the best time is from December to April of the following year, when the dry season begins, the sky is clear, sunny, and there is almost no rain, which is very favorable for exploring and learning about the relics.
If you enjoy a cool, pleasant atmosphere, visiting the palace from May to November is also a worthwhile option. However, this is the time when sudden rain showers often occur, which may disrupt your schedule, so you should prepare more thoroughly to ensure a complete trip.
Choose the right time of year to visit the palace
Con Dao in general and Dinh Chua Dao in particular are increasingly becoming popular destinations for many tourists. To ensure a smooth and fulfilling trip, you need to be aware of a few important notes:
If you are a distant traveler, flying is the fastest option to reach Con Dao, saving considerable travel time. From the airport to the center of Con Dao town is about 15km, you can go by motorbike, taxi, electric car, or use the hotel shuttle service. This journey usually takes about 20 - 30 minutes; if you want to shorten the time, you can choose the Co Ong route.
Some other travelers choose to travel to Vung Tau and then take a boat for about 4-5 hours to Con Dao. This method is faster than going directly by sea from Tran De port in Soc Trang, taking only about 2 hours, saving more than half the time compared to departing from Vung Tau.
Choose a suitable means of transportation to move faster
Once on the island, to conveniently move between attractions, you can choose a taxi at a price of about 12,000 VND/km, an electric car at about 20,000 VND/hour, or rent a private car for 12 - 16 seats for about 1.5 million VND/day. Depending on the number of people and transportation needs, you can easily choose the most suitable means for your trip.
In 1945, Dinh Chua Dao became the first place to establish a revolutionary government in Con Dao and witnessed the moment the island was completely liberated in 1975. Since then, this relic has been recognized as one of the important historical sites of Con Dao and has been transformed into the main exhibition room to preserve historical values.
When visiting Dinh Chua Dao, tourists will see the brutal torture methods against prisoners as well as the hard labor they had to endure to serve the luxurious life of the island lords. The palace is regarded as a valuable historical relic, preserving many documents, images, and artifacts that testify to the crimes of the rulers.
Currently, the exhibition room is divided into four main themes, along with a special theme introducing photos of Con Dao prison from 1908 to 1916, helping visitors understand more about the sacrifices and sufferings that prisoners endured, with about 700 vivid images and artifacts on display.
Dinh Chua Dao is a distinctive historical relic of Con Dao
In addition, Dinh Chua Dao also preserves nearly 6,000 records of political prisoners over many periods, along with documents, images, and artifacts continuously supplemented by the relic management board since 2000. This evidence has great historical value, denouncing the brutal actions of the island lords during the resistance period, and is also an important source of information for future generations to understand the painful yet heroic past of Con Dao.
If you haven't found a suitable hotel for your trip to Con Dao, here are some suggestions for convenient and comfortable accommodation:
The hotel is located in the center of Con Dao, making it an ideal starting point to explore this beautiful island. From here, you can easily move to famous places like Ben Dam port, Dinh Chua Dao, Bao Tang Con Dao, or Con Dao prison.
Con Son Victory Con Don is located right in the center of the town, this hotel is convenient for visiting attractions such as Dinh Chua Dao, Con Dao Prison, or Van Son Tu Pagoda. Especially, the location is right on two spacious fronts on Pham Van Dong Street, you can also easily walk to the market, restaurants, or parks.
Con Son Victory Con Don is close to entertainment spots
Located near the beach, the hotel has 45 modern rooms with a total capacity of nearly 100 guests, along with an elevator system to the rooftop. The infinity pool on the roof is a luxurious highlight, providing a wonderful relaxation experience.
After visiting Dinh Chua Dao, you can explore many nearby places:
Doi Chua is about 2km from Dinh Chua Dao, it is considered an ideal stop to admire the beauty of Con Dao from above. From the top of the hill, the panoramic view of the town and Dam Trau Beach is incredibly impressive, especially suitable for those who love taking photos and watching the sunset.
Bai Nhat is about 5km away, it still retains its pristine beauty with crystal clear water and fine white sand. Due to not being heavily impacted by tourism, this place offers a peaceful feeling, very suitable for relaxing, strolling, or taking check-in photos.
Bai Nhat has a wild beauty near Dinh Chua Dao
Ngu Hanh Son is located to the north of Con Dao, about 7km from Dinh Chua Dao, this area is characterized by rocky mountain ranges, natural caves, and pristine landscapes. It is an ideal destination for those who love climbing and exploring nature.
Ngu Hanh Son with ancient and majestic beauty
Con Dao Naval Museum is about 12km from the town center, the museum preserves many artifacts, documents, and relics associated with the historical struggle of the Vietnamese people. This is a worthwhile destination to learn more about the heroic past of Con Dao.
Con Dao Naval Museum preserves many documents and artifacts
Dinh Chua Dao is a familiar destination in Con Dao, but the surrounding area is not too crowded with eateries. However, you can still find a few affordable dining places suitable for a quick meal or a light main course.
Ut Trieu Restaurant is the closest choice, known for its fresh seafood dishes and flavorful cooking. Diners can sit and enjoy or easily take away.
If you want a simple lunch, Gia Dinh Restaurant is a recommended option. Familiar dishes, affordable prices, suitable for travelers who want to save costs while still ensuring a full meal.
In addition, the nearby area also offers dishes such as seafood noodle soup, clay pot rice at Hoang Quyen,... with reasonable prices, suitable for all groups of visitors to Con Dao.
Dinh Chua Dao has many affordable dining spots
Above are useful information for your journey to explore Dinh Chua Dao. Wishing you a complete trip in Con Dao and don't forget to visit NVK Travel to book flight tickets, hotel rooms, entrance tickets, or tours for a more convenient journey.
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